Improvement in consecutive-number printers



Patented Nov. 4,1873.

Wimesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT M. EVANS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN CONSECUTIVE-NUMBER PRINTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,196, dated November4, 1873; application filed May 17, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT MEADE EVANS, of Bufl'alo, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented a new and ImprovedConsecutive-h umber Printer, of which the following is a specification:

This invention relates to an improved machine for printing consecutivenumbers; and it consists of a case having a series of numbering-wheelsmade typehigh, which are moved to present the consecutive numbersthrough the medium of two levers and a pawl and ratchet, the leversbeing operated by coming in contact with a working part of the press,all as will more fully hereinafter appear.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improvednumber-printing apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of the bottom, and Fig. 3 isa transverse section taken on the line m a; of Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a seriesof, say, three type wheels or disks, arranged onthe axis B in the case 1), so that each can turn independently of theothers, except when connected by the pawls used for turning one by theother. Each wheel has a spring holding-pawl, E, arranged to hold itagainst being turned by the friction of the wheel by the side of it, orby the jars and shocks of the press, and each one has a pawl, F, betweenthe number 9 and the 0, to be forced after each revolution between twonumbers of the next wheel and turn it one number. The left-hand wheel inthe drawing, which is the one for shifting at each operation of thepress, has its pawl F pushed forward by the stationary cam G. The otherwheels have their pawls actuated by the pawl of the wheel preceding itin the order of their operation. The first wheel, A, is turned at eachaction of the press by the pawl H acting on a ratchetwhecl, J, attachedto its side. This pawl is formed on the end of the lever J, which ispivoted to the case at K, and connects with the lever L by the lugs M,so as to be thrown when the projection N on the free end of said lever Lis brought in contact with some part of the press at the time theimpression is made. This operation throws the pawl back to engage theratchet, which is then thrown forward by the spring 0 as soon as theprojeetion N is released. It is not necessary that the knob N projectfrom the case, because the part of the press with which it acts, or ablock fastened thereto, may project sufliciently to strike the lever Lwithout the knob. P is a blank-wheel, such as I propose to use until thenumbers rise high enough to' require a typewhcel in its place. At thebeginning two or three of these blanks may be used, until it is requiredto change them for type-wheels. The pawls F are mounted on springsarranged in cavities in the sides of the wheels.

In practice I propose to have the type-wheels arranged in a littlesquare case, and the ratchet wheel so contrived that the type can beshifted in case D to print in lines coinciding with the long axis ofcase A, or at right angles thereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Pat ent- In combination with the type-wheels ot' aeonsecutive-i'iumbering apparatus, the pivoted lever L, lever J, withits lugs M, spring 0, pawl H, and ratchet-wheel J all constructed andarranged for operation substantially as and for the purpose described.

ROBERT MEADE EVANS.

ll itnesses THOMAS Evans, BYRON H. Wnsroorr.

